Multiple controllers for a capacitive sensing device

Abstract

A capacitive sensing device can include multiple capacitive sensors. A first device controller is operatively connected to a portion of the capacitive sensors, while a second device controller is operatively connected to another portion of capacitive sensors. A common node or shield can be connected between the first device controller and the second device controller. Charging and discharging events of selected drive lines in the capacitive sensing device and/or of the common node or shield can be synchronized to reduce undesirable effects such as noise and/or to prevent the charging events and the discharging events from overlapping with each other. One or more reference capacitive sensors can be shared by the multiple device controllers.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 a set of capacitive sensors; 
 an array of pixels associated with the set of capacitive sensors that are operable to perform display functions; 
 a first controller that controls a first group of the set of capacitive sensors; and 
 a second controller that controls a second group of the set of capacitive sensors. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first controller is inoperative to control charging of at least one of the second group of the set of capacitive sensors. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the second controller is inoperative to control charging of at least one of the first group of the set of capacitive sensors. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the second controller is inoperative to control discharging of at least one of the first group of the set of capacitive sensors. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first controller is inoperative to control discharging of at least one of the second group of the set of capacitive sensors. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein the second controller is inoperative to control charging of at least one of the first group of the set of capacitive sensors. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein the second controller is inoperative to control discharging of at least one of the first group of the set of capacitive sensors. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the set of capacitive sensors is unassociated with the array of pixels. 
     
     
       9. An electronic device, comprising:
 a display including pixels that combine display functions and capacitive sensing functions; 
 a first controller that controls the capacitive sensing functions of a first group of the pixels; and 
 a second controller that controls the capacitive sensing functions of a second group of the pixels. 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the first controller controls capacitive sensing charging functions of the first group of the pixels. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the second controller is inoperative to control the capacitive sensing charging functions of the first group of the pixels. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the first controller controls capacitive sensing discharging functions of the first group of the pixels. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the second controller is inoperative to control the capacitive sensing discharging functions of the first group of the pixels. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein a touch to a surface associated with the display is determinable using at least a capacitance change detected using the capacitive sensing functions of the pixels. 
     
     
       15. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein an amount of a force applied to a surface associated with the display is determinable using at least a capacitance change detected using the capacitive sensing functions of the pixels. 
     
     
       16. An electronic device, comprising:
 a touch surface; 
 a display, coupled to the touch surface, including a set of pixels that is operable to perform display functions; 
 a set of capacitive sensors; 
 a first controller that controls a first group of the set of capacitive sensors; and 
 a second controller that controls a second group of the set of capacitive sensors; 
 wherein, each capacitive sensor in the set of capacitive sensors is associated with a pixel in the set of pixels. 
 
     
     
       17. The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the first controller and the second controller both control a third group of the set of capacitive sensors. 
     
     
       18. The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the first controller controls all of the set of capacitive sensors. 
     
     
       19. The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the set of pixels is unassociated with the set of capacitive sensors. 
     
     
       20. The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first controller controls charging and discharging of at least one the first group of the set of capacitive sensors; and 
 the second controller is inoperative to control charging and discharging of the at least one of the first group of the set of capacitive sensors.